Brunel University

Brunel has been a university since 1966 and in that time has developed extensive and rewarding links with industry and commerce. Situated in west London, the university is dedicated to providing a world class education for its 14,000 students. Brunel has an international student population of some 2,500, who come from over 114 different countries.

The University’s modern and attractive campus is situated on the western edge of London and is close to London Heathrow airport. Central London is just a short ride away by public transport but so too is the lovely countryside of the home counties.

Brunel is one of the UK’s most ambitious, forward-looking universities and is well into a £300 million investment programme, including a new residential complex that brings our on campus accommodation up to 4,549 rooms.

Academic strengths

At Brunel, research is at the heart of all we do. It underpins – indeed leads to – most of the taught courses we offer and informs the academic work of our students. It is responsible for much of our collaborative work with business, industry and the public sector. Brunel has always prided itself on the quality and relevance of its academic work and is renowned for ground-breaking research across a number of disciplines, including information technology, public health, screen media, sustainability and many more. The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) judged 82% of our research to be of international standing, leading to 54.5% increase in our research funding from the Higher Education Funding Council, compared to the sector average increase of 7.8%.

Brunel is perhaps best known for its engineering and design courses, but also offers courses across a wide range of subject areas including business, computing and maths, education, social sciences (including law, economics), humanities, visual and performing arts, sport sciences, environment, health and social care.

For international students, the university offers a range of preparatory courses, including foundation and pre-masters, plus pre and in-sessional English language and study skill programmes which support students throughout their studies.

Facilities

Striking 1960s architecture sits alongside outstanding modern designs, offset by gardens and interconnecting pathways. The Schools of Health Sciences and Social Care, Engineering and Design and Business have all benefited from the addition of new, multi-million pound buildings. In addition, the Lecture Centre has undergone an extensive renovation, with high tech teaching equipment and improved social and study facilities. Facilities on campus include:

Student life

The Brunel campus has a lively and friendly atmosphere and there is plenty for students to do outside of their studies within the modern and self-contained surroundings of the campus.

In addition to on-campus cafes, bars and a nightclub, the Union of Brunel Students helps to organise and fund around 100 clubs and societies. The performing and visual arts are also catered for at Brunel with a range of performances and extra-curricular activities.

With its convenient proximity to London, students enjoy all that the city has to offer including its famous landmarks i.e. Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament, world-class theatre, cutting-edge music and restaurants to suit all tastes. Brunel International offers a comprehensive range of day trips e.g. Oxford, Cambridge and Windsor Castle and to mainland Europe.

Nearby Southall, Hounslow and Slough offer a culturally rich Asian community where you can experience an abundance of shops and restaurants.

School of Social Sciences

School of Sport and Education

Subject areas: Education, Sport Sciences

Undergraduate courses & study at

Brunel is a great place to live and study

Brunel is a campus-based university, so virtually everything you need is within moments of where you live and study. Our courses and teaching have received high ratings in national assessments, as well as in the most recent university league tables and in the National Student Survey.

How to Apply for Undergraduate Courses

http://www.brunel.ac.uk/courses/ug/apply

This section outlines how to make an application to study an undergraduate course at Brunel and includes useful information to help you to do this..
Applying for full-time and sandwich degree courses

For autumn entry, all applications must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) for all full-time and sandwich first degree courses (including those with foundation years). Courses in the UCAS scheme are listed on theUCAS website.

When to apply

UCAS will normally start accepting applications from 1 September for entry in autumn the following year. The normal closing date for the receipt of on-time applications for both Home/EU and International applicants is 15 January.

UCAS accepts that some applicants, especially from outside the UK, may find this difficult. Late applications are accepted by UCAS until 30th June (applications after this date automatically go into Clearing) but are considered at Brunel’s discretion once all on-time applications have been considered.

How to apply

You can apply for September entry either through UCAS or by using the Electronic Application System (EAS) set up with UCAS in schools, colleges and careers offices (where applications are submitted to UCAS through a teacher or careers adviser rather than individually).

Further information:

Web: www.ucas.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)870 1122211
Email: app.req@ucas.ac.uk

You may apply to up to five choices of institution/course on the UCAS form. You should not feel obliged to use all five choices if you do not need to. Your choices can be formed in any way from the courses listed in the UCAS Directory or website, and you may, for example, mix both degree and non-degree courses if appropriate.

If you wish to apply for more than one course at Brunel, you will normally have to make a separate entry for each choice.

You should list your choices in the order in which they appear in the Directory. There is no facility for you to express an order of preference, and all your applications will be treated equally. Take care to enter the details of the institution and courses clearly and correctly on the application form.

As well as personal and course details you will need to write a personal statement that explains why you want to do the courses you have applied for. See our Top Tips for your Personal Statement page.

The institution code for the University is B84 BRUNL.

Applying for part-time degree courses

Some courses are available by part-time study. Applications will need to be made directly to Brunel for Undergraduate part-time courses using our paper application form.

You will be able to find a list of these courses using our course finder.

Applicants employed in industry

If you are employed in industry, and hope to be sponsored by your employer to study on a course listed in the UCAS Directory, you must apply through UCAS in the normal way. If however you wish to apply to Brunel only, you or your employer may want to contact us direct in the first instance before submitting your UCAS form.

Applying for second year entry

If you are interested in applying for direct entry into the second year of a course, please contact us directly to discuss whether it will be possible and your specific requirements if applicable. Typically, applicants will be required to meet the first year entry criteria.

Please note that the following courses do not accept second year entry for the 2011 academic year:

Biomedical Sciences

History

Occupational Therapy

Physiotherapy

Politics

Mature students

We welcome applications from mature students. For more information please visit theMature Students page.

Students with disabilities

The University welcomes applications from disabled people and those with specific learning difficulties. It is helpful to us if, when completing your UCAS form, you disclose information about your disability in order that we can discuss and plan with you the appropriate support, safety and facilities you may require. We can also discuss any safety issues – particularly those associated with laboratory-based activities – should you come to the University.

The University produces a Handbook for Disabled Students which outlines the University’s policies and admissions procedures, assessment arrangements, support and contact details, access to buildings and facilities and other details. It is obtainable from the Disability and Dyslexia Service (+44 (0)1895 265213) and from the Course Enquiries office (+44 (0)1895 265599). The Handbook may also be accessed on the internet.

Entry Requirements

http://www.brunel.ac.uk/courses/ug/entry-requirements

This page provides further information about the general entry requirements listed under each course. There is flexibility in all our entry requirements, and all applicants will be considered on an individual basis.

Fees and Funding

http://www.brunel.ac.uk/courses/ug/fees

Brunel University is proposing to charge a fee of £9,000 full-time, £6,750 part-time for most Home/EU students for 2013 entry. This is subject to agreement with the Office for Fair Access. Please check the website regularly for confirmation of 2013 fees.
We have set our fees at £9,000 as we believe this figure is necessary to maintain and improve the service we provide to students.

All applicants who accept an offer from Brunel and are eligible for scholarships from the University will be sent an online form to complete.

Did you know?

Brunel graduates enjoy the 13th highest starting salaries in the UK

We are the UK’s most improved university for student satisfaction (2011 National Student Survey)

We continue to invest in our campus – a new home for the Business School was completed in 2012

Undergraduate courses & study at

http://www.brunel.ac.uk/courses/pg

The strong research ethos at Brunel, for which we have become well-known, directly influences our postgraduate courses, both in terms of teaching quality and relevance of research programmes. Such a focus on research ensures that content is always current and remains as up-to-date as possible.

At the last Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 82% of our staff were judged to be conducting research of international standing, so you can be sure you will be taught by a leader in your respective field, regardless of which postgraduate course you select.
How to Apply for Postgraduate Courseshttp://www.brunel.ac.uk/courses/pg/how-to-apply

Taught Postgraduate Courses

Applications should be made online through the specific course information page and by clicking on the ‘Apply’ button.

All applications need to be supported by two references, one of which must be an academic reference. The references can be uploaded by your referee, sent via email, fax or by post (headed paper should be used).Except in the case of Home/EU Brunel graduates, applications must be accompanied by documentary proof of the qualifications held (including those showing English language proficiency for those whose first language is not English). International Brunel graduates will still need to provide their certificates when applying.

Applications should be submitted as early as possible:

no later than three weeks before the start of the programme of study for home students;
and at least three months in advance for international students.

The applicant may be required to attend for interview at the University before a decision on the application is made. For international applicants, it may be possible to arrange telephone and web conference interviews.

At the beginning of the first session, every student (full-time, part-time and distance learning) must register for their course and, at the beginning of all subsequent sessions, they must enrol. All students must pay their fees at the beginning of every session.

Research Degrees

For detailed information and advice on the application process, see Research Degrees: Making an Application
Higher Doctorates

The University can award higher doctorates to its graduates or members of its staff who have established positions of authority in suitable fields of study. The title of a higher doctorate may be Doctor of Laws (LLD), Doctor of Letters (DLitt), Doctor of Science (DSc) or Doctor of Technology (DTech) as appropriate to the candidate’s field of study. Regulations regarding the award of higher doctorates are available from the Senior Assistant Registrar.
Postgraduate fees

Paying your tuition fees

Postgraduate funding information

Finding your fee

Fees shown in the tables listed on the right are for 2012/13. They show the home/EU and overseas fees for each programme and for each mode of attendance (full-time, part-time, distance learning or associate).
Fees for taught courses

Full-time – fee applies for one year. Where programme regulations allow students to complete the course over a longer period, an extension fee will apply in subsequent years.

Part-time (where applicable) – tuition fees are usually half of the corresponding full-time fees, and they apply in each of the first two years of study. Where a part-time course is set up to run for more than two years, any subsequent period will not be charged. In all cases, an extension fee will apply to any period of study (including dissertation submission) beyond the normal course end date.

Distance learning (where applicable) – fee applies for the whole course, or per module. Where fees are paid by module, it is assumed that four modules will be taken each year unless the student notifies the Programme Administrator otherwise. Module fees are subject to an annual increase.

Associate – fee is per module. Students who wish to be considered for an award for their studies must register on a full programme.

Fees for research programmes

Full-time – fee normally applies for one year for an MPhil or for each of three years for a PhD (including Doctor of Public Health). Part time – fee normally applies for each of two years for an MPhil or up to eight years for a PhD. New Route PhD – fee applies for each of four years

Types of fee

For fee purposes, students are classified as either home/EU or overseas. For details of the criteria used for establishing fee status, visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs website. If you are unsure whether you are classified as home/EU or overseas, please contact the Admissions Office on +44 (0)1895 265265.

For overseas students, subject areas are classified as either low band (generally classroom-based), middle band or high band (generally requiring higher cost resources or equipment). Each band has a different fee.

Equivalent or Lower Qualifications (ELQs)

Home/EU students who already have a qualification at a level higher than or equal to that for which they are applying may be subject to different fees. See the Equivalent or Lower Qualifications page for details.

Additional fees

For further information about additional fees, please see Council Ordinance 10.

Fee refunds

Fees are due at the time of registration and there is no entitlement to any reduction or refund if a student withdraws during the year. The University may exceptionally allow reductions to self-supporting students. Please note that once you enrol, you become liable for fees, even if you subsequently withdraw. Please see Council Ordinance 10 for full details.
Fee deposits and discounts

International deposit: £3,000

Home/EU deposit: £250

Postgraduate Taught Course Information

An Introduction

Brunel has over 100 taught Master’s courses on offer, and many are available in either full-time or part-time modes. If you register for and complete only part of the Master’s programme, you may be eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Certificate or a Postgraduate Diploma, depending upon the number of credits gained.

Research Degrees

Applicants with a UK first or second class honours degree or a Master’s degree (or a recognised equivalent from an overseas university) may be registered for a PhD. Anappropriate level of English language competence is also expected. An applicant with certain alternative qualifications may be registered for the degree of PhD “subject to confirmation”. Candidates not meeting the normal entrance requirements above may be considered for registration for the degree of MPhil. It is quite common for students to be registered initially for an MPhil and to then have their status as a PhD student confirmed after successful completion of the first year.

The Senate reserves the right to assess the eligibility of applicants on an individual basis.

Taught Postgraduate Courses

Candidates with a first degree of a UK university (or recognised equivalent UK or overseas qualification) may be admitted to a programme of advanced study. Candidates with other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. An appropriate level of English language competence is also expected. The qualifications accepted by the University are continuously under review. For this reason, it is not possible to publish a detailed list, but some guidelines are given under each course entry.

Application forms for PGCE courses are available from the Graduate Teacher Training Registry, Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, Glos, GL52 3LZ (enclose an A5 stamped addressed envelope). Applications for the MA in Social Work should be made to UCAS.

Associate Student Scheme

If you want to test the water of postgraduate study before jumping in, or simply want to follow up an interest without committing yourself to a master’s degree, the Associate Student Scheme could be for you. You can choose from over 100 modules on offer each year, and study alongside full- and part-time students. If you decide to register formally for a master’s degree or intermediate award at a later date, you can take with you whatever credits you have accumulated. You can obtain further details and an application form from the Admissions Office in the Registry.